Important questions to ask when selecting the perfect tree for your space are:

• Will it thrive in your area’s growing zone?
• Does it have specific water, light or soil needs that your site can support?
• How big will it grow? Will roots or branches interfere with building foundations or power lines?
• Is it native or non-native? A healthy mix of native trees provides the most benefits to insects and wildlife.

Trees can be purchased from Michigan conservation district tree sales (search by individual district), seedling nurseries, the Arbor Day Foundation and local retail and wholesale vendors.

When spring weather returns and you are ready to get a shovel in the dirt, make sure to call 811 or visit MISS DIG online first. Pros will mark utility lines for free so you can avoid making costly mistakes.

Visit Michigan.gov/MiTrees to learn more about our pledge to plant 50 million trees by 2030. See where the DNR and your neighbors have planted trees and add your own to the statewide map.

For tree planting and care information, visit our Urban and Community Forestry webpage at Michigan.gov/UCF.

Safety certificates show you’ve completed a program meant to teach the fundamentals of safety for your chosen activity. Many states require this documentation before you can rent and/or operate a boat or personal watercraft. If you’ve misplaced your certificate, you can request a duplicate.

Don’t have a safety certificate? You can take recreational safety education courses online from the comfort of your home and at your own pace at Michigan.gov/RecreationalSafety. Questions? Email DNR-LED-RecSafety@Michigan.gov.

Outdoor Skills Academy classes

Whether it’s getting started with a new outdoor pursuit or brushing up on skills and learning tips and tricks from the pros, the DNR Outdoor Skills Academy can help. The last installment of this winter’s Hard Water School – a two-day class focusing on ice fishing techniques for panfish, walleye and pike – is set for March 4-5 in Cadillac. Learn to weave a pair of traditional wooden snowshoes at the snowshoe making class at Ludington State Park March 11-12. Get strategies and techniques for chasing Michigan’s “chrome torpedoes” during the steelhead fishing clinic March 18-19, and get ready for spring turkey season with the turkey hunting clinic March 25 – both those classes will be held in Cadillac.

And don’t forget to sign up for the April 1 maple syrup clinic, in Cadillac.

See a full schedule of classes at Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills.

Fun at the Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit

If you find yourself in southeast Michigan, check out some of the fun events for all ages at the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit.

Meet live animals and explore a mobile classroom full of hands-on wildlife and nature activities with a presentation by Howell Nature Center and the Spirit of Alexandria Nature Bus, coming to the OAC March 4. Learn about the story of wild rice in Michigan with a visit by local author Barb Barton March 12. The OAC’s series of family hikes at state parks kicks off March 23. And don’t miss the chance to sport your best flannel apparel and lumberjack beard for the annual Lumberjack Pancake Run and Lumberjack Day March 25.

Those are just a few of the highlights. March also features a variety of other programs for kids, seniors and families – find more info on the Outdoor Adventure Center events calendar.

State park volunteer stewardship workdays

Several state parks in southern Michigan will host stewardship workdays, where volunteers are needed to help remove invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems:

• Warren Dunes State Park in Berrien County – March 4 and 25.
• Brighton Recreation Area in Livingston County – March 5.
• Yankee Springs Recreation Area in Barry County – March 5 and 26.
• Bald Mountain Recreation Area in Oakland County – March 11.
• Waterloo Recreation Area in Jackson County – March 12.
• Highland Recreation Area in Oakland County – March 18.
• Fort Custer Recreation Area in Kalamazoo County – March 19.
• Island Lake Recreation Area in Livingston County – March 19.
• Belle Isle Park in Wayne County – March 25.
• Pinckney Recreation Area in Washtenaw County – March 26.

More details about each workday and how to register can be found on the DNR volunteer events calendar.

Input on latest state land review recommendations

The DNR is hosting virtual public meetings March 1 and 2 to provide information on the state land review process and opportunities for feedback on recommendations on whether to keep, exchange or sell DNR-managed public land in 11 counties: Cheboygan, Crawford, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Muskegon, Osceola, Otsego and Ottawa.

The state land review process – which involves DNR-managed lands 200 acres or less in size or that, due to an irregular boundary, may be difficult to manage – stems from the DNR public land strategy and determines whether these parcels are contributing strongly to the department’s mission.

Visit the DNR’s land review webpage for more information on how to participate.

On the Ground habitat improvement projects

On the Ground, Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ volunteer wildlife habitat improvement program, will host two stewardship workdays in March. Volunteers are needed March 4 to help enhance habitat and boost fish populations at Au Train Lake in Alger County, and March 24 to help cut invasive vegetation and create brush piles to provide habitat for a variety of wildlife at Edmore State Game Area in Montcalm County.

Find more details and register for these events at MUCC.org/on-the-ground.

For more opportunities to volunteer, contribute and provide input, visit Michigan.gov/DNRVolunteers.

April 22-29, walk, run or roll for this year’s Run for the Trees / Happy Little (Virtual) 5K. For $34 per person, you’ll receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and a finisher’s medal. An international shipping option is available for participants outside the United States. Group discounts (for parties of 10 or more) are available, too.

All race proceeds support management of invasive plant and forest pests and early detection surveys in Michigan state parks. Many of these locations have been affected by tree pests and diseases like emerald ash borer and oak wilt.

Over the past three years alone, more than 52,000 participants across all 50 states and several countries – including Australia, England and Mexico – have participated in the event, which has raised more than $1 million in net proceeds for Michigan.

Now in its fourth year, the Happy Little 5K program has expanded to include four other states. Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina and Wisconsin will “lock arms” together to raise awareness and funding for stewardship efforts in state parks.

“We’re excited to work with other states to get people outdoors, while expanding our impact to protect state parks,” said Michelle O’Kelly, fund developer and Happy Little Trees race director for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.

Inspired by Bob Ross’ love of the outdoors, Michigan’s “Happy Little Trees” program began with a partnership between the Michigan DNR, Bob Ross Inc. and hundreds of volunteers helping to plant trees at locations hard-hit by invasive pests and tree diseases across Michigan. The program quickly expanded to include the Happy Little 5k.

Learn more about the program at Michigan.gov/DNRHappyLittleTrees, or sign up for the race directly.

For more information, contact Michelle O’Kelly at 517-899-5211.

We provide the wheels, you provide the lesson plan – let your imagination run wild and pick a theme that best meets the needs of your group. Past locations range from state parks and family forests to wetlands and woodlots. Classes cover a lot of ground: invasive plants, endangered species, maple syrup production, wood products and more. You might even consider finding community partners or bringing in an industry professional to give your class or learning group a one-of-a-kind experience.

“Although kids are spending less time outside in today’s fast-paced, tech-focused world, educators can capitalize on learning opportunities by bringing their students outdoors,” said Meagan Hoffman, Wheels to Woods program administrator. “Hands-on learning helps kids more deeply understand and relate to educational topics, and spending time in nature has mental and physical health benefits to help your students feel their best.”

Applications for the program are open now – take advantage of this valuable opportunity to connect kids to the woods or a forest products company for an educational field trip. Your learning group could receive a transportation reimbursement of up to $350 per bus or $1,000 per school.

This partner-supported program is funded by grants from the USDA Forest Service. For more information and to apply, visit WheelsToWoods.org.

Questions? Contact Meagan Hoffman at Admin@WheelsToWoods.org.

For 50 years, program volunteers have collected valuable data on water quality and fish habitat in lakes statewide – information used by local communities, researchers and state agencies like the DNR to better protect and manage Michigan’s 11,000 inland lakes and the fish and wildlife that rely on them.

This community science opportunity gives you an inside look into what’s happening in your favorite lake. As part of this program, you’ll receive detailed instructions, training and equipment to collect this valuable data. You choose which lake to sample and which measurements to take. You can collect data on water quality (water clarity, nutrients, dissolved oxygen and algae), invasive species, native plants and shoreline conditions.

There is a small fee to cover the costs of supplies and analyzing samples, but volunteers often can collaborate with local lake associations or other organizations to help pay for these costs.

Want to show your lakes some love? Visit the CLMP enrollment webpage for more information or contact Erick Elgin (MSU Extension) at 231-928-1053 or Joe Nohner (DNR) at 517-599-6825.

The MiCorps Clean Lakes Monitoring Program is sponsored by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and is administered in partnership with MSU Extension, the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association and the Huron River Watershed Council.

If you want to learn more, don’t miss the Shoreline and Shallows Conference Thursday, March 9, hosted in person at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing

This year’s theme is “Improving Near Shore Habitat for People, Plants and Animals.” The conference starts off with the current state of Michigan’s inland lake shorelines, based on findings from the National Lake Assessment conducted by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Experts with the Wisconsin and Michigan departments of Natural Resources will discuss why woody structures are good for lakes and how they can be used for projects like “fish sticks” and “turtle logs.” The conference also will highlight one of the largest projects in Michigan for shoreline erosion control using woody structures.

Other topics include bioengineered shorelines, aquatic plants and best management practices associated with the updated shoreline permitting process.

“As development around lakes increases, native vegetation is often removed to make way for swimming beaches and ‘uncluttered’ yards, and that has huge negative effects,” said Joe Nohner, inland lakes habitat analyst with the DNR. “Natural shorelines with native vegetation such as flowering plants, shrubs and trees benefit lakes, plant and animal life, and property values in so many ways.”

Aquatic vegetation:

• Intercepts and prevents pollutants and nutrients from entering a body of water.
• Protects the shore from erosion by decreasing wave energy.
• Provides habitat, through plants and downed trees, for a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and fish.
• Can increase property values by improving water quality and aesthetic appeal.

The Shoreline and Shallows Conference is for anyone interested in managing lakefront property in an environmentally friendly manner. Networking opportunities include an exhibitor hall, refreshment area and luncheon. Registration by Feb. 26 is $50. After that date, registration is $65. The cost includes lunch. Get the complete conference agenda and registration details.

The conference is hosted by the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership and its member organizations including the DNR, EGLE, Michigan State University Extension, Michigan State University’s Institute of Water Research and GEI Consultants. 

Questions? Contact Joe Nohner (DNR), 517-599-6825 or Julia Kirkwood (EGLE), 269-312-2760.

Lt. Vence Woods, environmental investigations supervisor, was presented with a Distinguished Service Award and a Lifesaving Award. Det. Chris Bowen, environmental investigations conservation officer, received a Distinguished Service Award.

On May 20, 2022, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the community of Gaylord was hit by an EF-3 tornado. Several Michigan DNR conservation officers were among the first emergency responders to arrive at the scene.

Woods was working in the Gaylord-based Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy office, located at 2100 M-32, when he saw the tornado touch down near the building. After ensuring his office was secure, he gathered emergency response supplies and followed the tornado’s path in a detective unit vehicle to the Nottingham Forest Mobile Home Park, located a half-mile east of the EGLE office.

The mobile home park was one of the hardest hit areas, with building frames and axles of trailers, roofs and other heavy items hanging from trees. Woods coordinated with the first emergency responders who arrived and risked his own life by searching the dangerous scene.

“In 35 years of law enforcement, that was the most volatile and dangerous place I have seen,” Woods said of the destroyed mobile home park. “When I arrived, the natural gas was spewing as loud as a jet plane. It was all you could taste and smell.”

During the response, Woods located and removed a trapped woman who was in critical condition, unable to breathe and with numerous injuries. Woods worked with others to strap the woman to a kitchen chair and carry her out of the debris and a considerable distance to a staged ambulance in a safer area.

Woods returned to the scene and searched numerous mounds of debris for people with injuries and worked to clear the scene.

Bowen immediately responded to the hardest hit areas in Gaylord and was personally responsible for assisting 15 people with emergencies and provided medical treatment to at least 11 others.

At Culver’s, 1397 W. Main St., Bowen provided medical care to two women, one with a large piece of glass in her head, the other with multiple serious cuts caused by glass that exploded from the restaurant windows.

He assisted at Hobby Lobby, 1425 W. Main St., helping other emergency responders dig through debris for trapped people, while damaged gas, water and electrical lines posed serious risk.

At the Nottingham mobile home park, Woods witnessed Bowen risk his own life, searching through debris and assisting someone who needed to retrieve medication from their destroyed mobile home.

When additional emergency personnel arrived to assist, Woods and Bowen provided details of where they searched, people they located, and those who may be missing.

Both conservation officers used their knowledge of the area and emergency response training to assist local authorities in the days following the tornado.

Woods has worked in law enforcement since 1987. Both he and Bowen have served as conservation officers since 2000.

Environmental investigation conservation officers are funded by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

On Nov. 13, 2022, Conservation Officers Ariel Young and Brandon Vacek responded to an emergency dispatch call regarding an unresponsive woman at the Detroit island park.

With unclear details as to the woman’s location, Young located a group of people near the James Scott Memorial Fountain, located at Fountain Drive and Sunset Drive, at 5:59 p.m.

Vacek attempted to keep the group calm while collecting information about the woman.

Young removed the woman from the vehicle, gently laid her on the ground and detected a faint pulse. The woman was unresponsive, so Young began sternal rubs to help her regain consciousness. With the woman still unresponsive, Young administered two doses of NARCAN while continuing sternal rubs.

NARCAN is a medication used for suspected opioid use, commonly administered through the nose.

After the second dose of NARCAN, the woman regained full consciousness and was able to maintain a conversation.

EMS arrived at 6:05 p.m. and assessed the woman’s vitals. After consulting with a hospital doctor via phone, the woman was discharged from the ambulance.

The DNR is not releasing the name of the woman.

Young and Vacek are graduates of the DNR’s 2018 Conservation Officer Recruit School Academy and patrol in southeast Michigan.

Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety, and protect residents through general law enforcement and conducting lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.

“In essence, the annual resident Recreation Passport was tied to the Secretary of State’s vehicle registration process,” he said. “Not only was the purchasing opportunity put in front of more residents, but the cost per vehicle also dropped significantly. That shift resulted in more purchases that ultimately better support these outdoor spaces and protect natural and cultural resources for the next generation.”

In fiscal year 2022, 40% of eligible vehicles in Michigan had the Recreation Passport.

All revenue generated by Recreation Passport sales goes into a restricted fund that supports state park infrastructure and operations, a local grant program for community recreation agencies, state forest campgrounds and nonmotorized pathways and trails, cultural and historic resource restoration, and marketing and promotion.

“Throughout most of the Lower Peninsula, Mother Nature unfortunately didn’t cooperate with us this year,” said acting Lt. Jeff Rabbers, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “As disappointing as it is that many anglers must cut their season short, safety is the DNR’s main priority. We want to make sure that everyone has ample opportunity to remove their shanties before conditions become unsafe.”

People venturing onto ice should use extreme caution as temperatures begin to rise or fluctuate. The repeated thawing and refreezing of ice weakens its strength, decreasing its ability to support the additional weight of people, snowmobiles, ORVs and shanties. Deteriorating ice, water currents and high winds increase the probability of pressure cracks, which can leave anglers and others stranded on ice floes or at risk of falling through the ice.

Shanty owners whose structures fall through the ice are subject to penalties of up to 30 days in jail, fines up to $500, or both. If a shanty is removed by a government agency, the court can require the owner to reimburse that agency for up to three times the cost of removal.

Learn more at Michigan.gov/IceSafety.

Removal dates

Daily use of ice shanties is permitted anywhere in Michigan if ice conditions allow and if the shanties are removed from the ice at the end of each day.

Seasonal removal dates begin with Lake St. Clair, located northeast of Detroit. This year, shanties must be removed from Lake St. Clair before sunset Sunday, Feb. 26.

Shanties in the northern Lower Peninsula must be removed by midnight Wednesday, March 15. Those counties include Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford.

Ice shanties in the remaining counties of the Lower Peninsula must be removed by midnight Wednesday, March 1.

In the Upper Peninsula, on Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters, ice shanties must be removed by midnight Wednesday, March 15.

All other bodies of water in the Upper Peninsula must have ice shanties removed by midnight Friday, March 31.

Spring fishing

The end of ice fishing season means it’s time to start preparing for spring fishing. Make sure to get your fishing license and check out the 2023 fishing guide when they become available March 1, ahead of the annual fishing license renewal period starting April 1. Find more information on licenses and fishing opportunities at Michigan.gov/Fishing.

With warm weather on the horizon, many anglers will soon target fish species by boat. Make sure you’re boater safety certified – in Michigan, anyone born on or after June 30, 1996, must successfully complete an approved boater safety education course to operate a vessel. Find more information on boater safety online at Michigan.gov/RecreationalSafety.